Barrel with cooling means for beverages



Jan. 2, 1951 F. s. WALKER 2,536,404

BARREL WITH COOLING MEANS FOR BEvERAGEs Filed Feb. 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l .i Y l 'WZ/ENTOR.

Jan- 2, 1951 F. s. WALKER 2,536,404

BARREL WITH COOLING MEANS ROR BEvERAOEs Filed Feb. 27, 1948 5 sheets-sheer 2 Jan. 2, 1951 F. s. WALKER 2,536,404

BARREL WITH COOLING MEANS FOR BEVERAGES Filed Feb 27, 1948 O s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR.

/ @M/avenge;

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BARREL WITH COOLING MEANS FOR BEVERAGES 2 Claims.

1 This invention relates to improvements in a barrel with cooling means for beverages. More especially it has to do with improved means for -cooling the beverage in a barrel and still more particularly while the beverage is being Withdrawn from the barrel.

In the dispensing of beverages such as charged liquids like ginger ale, soda water, or the various cola drinks for examples, it has heretofore been deemed necessary to keep the beverage in tightly sealed bottles from the time it is carbonated until it is to be drunk. The relatively small amount of iiuid contained in the usual size of bottle is not sufficiently affected by temperature changes to be noticeable, but the transportation or storage of such charged liquids in the ordinary barrel or keg has not been practiced because such a quantity of the beverage at ordinary temperatures would soon lose its carbonation and become undrinkable. Even beer, and ale or the like, which is sold in kegs or barrels, should be kept below a certain temperature to insure that refermentation does not occur. Heretofore various insulated barrels have been proposed and have been used for beer and ale, but merely insulating a barrel is not enough. There must also be provision for insuring that as the liquid is drawn from the barrel it shall be at the lowest practicable temperature so that when discharged from an open faucet it will retain its liquid state and not become foamy or frothy or escape as gas.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved barrel or keg which will have a iiow passage through which a cooling iiuid can be circulated continuously (except possibly Q during the relatively short period when the barrel is being transported on a truck or delivery Wagon) and a separate passage for the beverage in thermal relation to the cooling fluid passage, the bev-V erage flowing in a direction counter to that of the cooling fluid which may be either a gas or a liquid. In other words, the primary object of the invention is to provide a built-in delivery pipe within the barrel so arranged that the beverage will enter this pipe near the bottom of the barrel, travel along a generally helical path in thermal exchange relation to a counter-flowing cooling iiuld, and thereby receive its maximum chill during such travel just prior to being dispensed.

The best modes in which I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings but these are to be deemed ilustrative for it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the improvements disclosed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is avertical medial section of a barrel embodying one form of my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing another form of my improvements;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a detail; and

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of how my improvements may be applied.

My improvements can be incorporated in either an insulated barrel or one that is not insulated. I have therefore shown both types of barrel in the drawings but it is to be understood that although I have shown the more simple arrangement of the cooling and delivery passages in an uninsulated barrel (Fig. 2) this arrangement can likewise be incorporated in an insulated barrel.

The form of barrel shown` in Fig. 1 comprises an inner shell l0 which contains the liquid to be dispensed. This shell has a head l2 and a bottom lll preferably welded to its side wall. Outside of this inner shell is an intermediate shell i6 so arranged as to provide a helical llow passage for cooling liquid. The side wall of this intermediate shell is formed with a rather large helical corrugation I8 whose inner edge 20 makes a nice sliding lit with the external Wall of the inner shell I9. At both the bottom and top, the heads Ilia and |612 of the intermediate shell are for the most part spaced from the inner shell to permit the cooling liquid to bathe the heads of the inner shell. Outside the intermediate shell I6 is an outer shell 22 whose side wall can be slipped along the outer edges of the corrugation I8 of the intermediate shell. This outer shell has heads 24 and 2li Welded to its side wall.

The helical corrugation I8 of the intermediate shell provides two helically shaped spaces 28, 30 along the side of the barrel. The inner space 28 serves as a passageway for the cooling liquid while the outer space 30 is preferably packed with insulating material 32. My improved delivery pipe 34 is shown nested in the inner helical space 28 through which the cooling liquid flows.

The entrance to the delivery pipe is a bent piece of piping 36 that is secured to the bottom head i4 of the inner shell Il). This bent piece of piping is connected to the delivery pipe and thus the beverage is received into the latter at the bottom of the barrel. The delivery end 34a of the pipe 34 is at the top of the barrel and is preferably provided with a so-called Golden Gate tting 3B. At the top end of the barrel is a short piece of pipe 4t which projects somewhat within the inner shell l!! and is also provided with a Golden Gate fitting 42. This pipe 40 is connected with a source of pressure when the beverage is to be discharged. The barrel may be initially filled through 'this pipe 4B or through a pipe 4I in the side of the barrel. This latter pipe is normally closed by a bung 43.

1n constructing the form of ybarrel shown in the drawings, the bent piece 'of piping 3 6 lis secured to the bottom head i4 of the inner shell and then this head is welded to the side wall of the same shell. Similarly the pipe 46 is secured to the head l2 of the shell lll and 'then this head is welded to the side wall. A Ahole 45 is drilled in the side wall and tappedY so that later the pipe 4l can -be screwed into it.

The side wall of the li-ntern'lediate shell i8, near its ends, is drilled and tapped at 44 and 4S and Golden Gate fittings '43 and 5 are inserted. AnotherV hole 41 is drilled in the wall of 'the intermediate shell so -as to register with the hole 45, the latter being somewhatY smaller than the hole 47. For the moment a plug (not shown in `the drawings) somewhat shorter Athan the space between the intermediate shell and the outer shell Vis lightly screwed into the hole 45 so that the insulation 32 can -be applied without entering the inner shell.

The delivery pipe iid Y(which is preferably made of bendable metal) is nested within the inner helical space 28 formed by the -helical corrugation IB of the side wall of the intermediate shell l'. This shell and the delivery pipe nested therein are slipped over the inner shell lli and the lend 34h of the delivery pipe is secured to the bent piece of vpiping 38. TheV lower head l-Sa 'of the intermediate shell is then welded toits shell, after which the upper head i611 is also secured, there being suitable holes in this upper head to permit the pipe e@ and the end '34a of the vdelivery pipe to project outside the head. Both the pipe 34 and the pipe mare welded to the head -llib of the intermediate shell to prevent any leakage later of the cooling liquid. The insulation 32 is now applied to the helical space 3d about the intermediate shell. Y

The outer -shell is provided with holes 52 and 54 arranged to register with 'the Golden Gate fittings 43 and 50 respectively of the intermediate shell. When the barrel is not connected for circulation of cooling liquid, these holes 52 and 54 are closed by removable plugs 55 and 58 respectively. Another hole 55 is also provided in the outer shell so as to come opposite the Yholes 45 and el inthe other two shells. This hole 55 'is slightly larger 'than the vpipe 4l.

The lower head 2S is secured to the shell'22 and after the insulation material has been placed against this head, the intermediate shell IB, delivery pipe and insulation packing 32 are slipped into the shell 22. The `upper headZfl, which has holes to accommodate the pipe `lle and the end 34a of the delivery pipe, is put in place and welded to the 'wall'of the outer shell 22. This head 241 inay be secured to the Vpipes S4'a'nd'4'0 'by a nuts 56 and 58 respectively or welded joints may' be made between the head and the pipes. The

' Golden Gate fittings 33 and 42 are thenapplied to the ends of the pipes 34 and 4B. The plug (hereinbefore mentioned but not shown) is then removed from hole 45 through the hole 55 and the pipe Ill inserted. This has a threaded inner end which screws into the tapped hole 45 in the inner shell lll and has a shoulder at the ends of its threads which overlies the edge of hole fil in the intermediate shell l5. Accordingly, upon the pipe 4l being screwed in firmly, the intermediate shell is clamped tightly to the inner shell. edge of the pipe nl is iiiially welded to the outer shell `22. VBy this construction it is clear 'that the inner shell is tight for holding the liquid to be delivered and the intermediate shell is also tight `to :carry-the iflow ci a cooling medium.

`*I-f the barrel is lilled through the pipe el, it is desirable, after the bung 43 has been driven in tight, to pla-ce the barrel upright, as shown in Fig.

l, and with the tting 3S open apply a slight pressure through the fitting l2 and pipe 4S to insure that' the `delivery pipe 34 is also filled with the beverage. It is also desirable to ll the space 2S between the inner shell and intermediate with a cold `liquid to keep the beverage 'coolduring transit. While waiting 'to `be used, theflled 'barrel should be connected to a 'source or" cboliiig *liquid* which will flow continuously thrbuugh the `space 2S between the inner and intermediate fsh'ells. -It is "intended that a number of such 'barrels will be held in storage and that all will be fc'onnecte'd with the supply of cooling medium so that the latter will flowpo'n'tin'uously through 'all the barrels. This, in effect, amounts to keeping lthe bev-V erage in sold storage until .it is dispensed.

When the beverage in the Abarrel' is to be 'dispensed la suitable conduit leading to a dispensing faucet is-connected with the 'iitti'ng 38 on v'the 'end Sila of the delivery pipe and vthe iitting l42 on the pipe 49 is connected with 'a source ofr'piessre supply. If the 'preferred Golden Gate -ttings are used, thes'e connections can be "made 'without loss of any of the beverage and, Whatis rhoreiihportant 'in fthe case of a charged liquid, withu't disturbing its carbonated condition.

When 'the dispensing falle'et iS Opened, thebV- e'rage 'iis forced finto the bent pipe -S land caused to -iiov'g `tlfi'io'ugh thecoi'le'd length rof the delivery pipe 34 -to the outletfendtila connected Ywitlfi the faucet. Since the'pipe 3d is nested in 1th'espace traversed by the cooling medium, the beverage taken `fiornthe inner Vshell is given its maxim-um chill -as yit flows through the 4delivery pipe 4 `and thus reaches the faucetat a `temperature 'which insures its discharge 'as a liquid, `without foaming orffrothingand still in its desired carbonated condition. This is an important feature where the beverage is a charged liquid, because unless theteinpera'ture of such Aa vliquid is 'maintainedlbelow Vacertain degree, the carbonated condition of the liquid is Vreduced'andniay be so depleted as to spoil'the beverage. And with beer and ale., not generally deemed to be carbonated -liquids, itis high-ly desirable tokeep the tempera-ture low and to give the nal maximum chill tothe beverage a i-t is bei-ng withdrawn from the bar-rel.

Referring now tofFigs. Zand 3, I have show-n -i-n these iigures a more simple embodiment ,offmy invention. Inthis form the principles of my 'invention can-be incorporated in-any bar-rel whether it is insulatedor not. For purposes Iof illustra'- tion, I have shown a simple metal barrel but rthe The outer Y.

5 features of my invention could be used in a wooden barrel as well.

The barrel of Fig. 2 has a shell 68 made in two half sections 62 and 64 which can be welded together around their overlapping edges, 66 and 68. At one side of the barrel, preferably midway thereof, is ahole 'i8 through which the beverage may be inserted into the barrel and which is normallyclosed by a bung 12. Near` the bottom of the barrel on the side thereof in a recessed portion 'i4 of the shell is a hole 16 through which a pipe i8 extends and has at its outer end a socalled Golden Gate. .fittingv 86.1' '.The inner end of this pipe 18 is somewhat enlarged and has a slot 82 to permit the pipe 'i8 to slip over the end of another pipe 84 also slotted on one side.

The pipe 84 coils around inside the barrel and within it is a smaller pipe 86, preferably held in concentric relation to the outer pipe 84 by a piece of wire 88 helically disposed between the two pipes. rThis wire not only serves as a spacer between the two pipes 84 and 86 but also causes the cooling liquid to :dow helically between these pipes, thus providing additional opportunity for the cooling liquid to absorb heat both from the beverage in the pipe 86 and from the beverage in the barrel outside the pipe 84. At the bottom the internal pipe 86 turns outward through the opening formed by the slots in the pipes 'I8 and 84. When arranged together as seen in Fig. 2, the two pipes 'i8 and 84 are welded together and also to the pipe 86. At the top of the barrel, the inner pipe 86 extends directly through the barrel head 98 and terminates in another Golden Gate tting 92. Just above the barrel head, the outer pipe 84 is closed tight above an offset portion 86a which extends outward and upward and has at its end stili another Golden Gate fitting 94. In the head of the barrel is a third pipe 96, with a Golden Gate fitting 88. This pipe barely extends vvithin the barrel.

When the barrel is being stored, a source of cooling fluid is connectedwith the Golden Gate fitting 96, and a return to the same source may be connected to the Golden Gate fitting 88 at e.

the bottom of the barrel, or the latter fitting may be connected to a waste pipe. Cooling liquid is forced to flow through the outer pipe 84 between it and the inner pipe 86 and during its ow absorbs heat from the beverage stored in the barrel.

When the beverage is to be withdrawn from the barrel, like connections are made with the fittings 88 and 84 for the continuous flow of a cooling iuid. in addition, a source of pressure is connected to the fitting 98 and the fitting 92 is connected with a dispensing faucet. When this faucet is opened for discharge of the beverage, the latter enters the inner pipe 86 through the open end at the bottom, passes upward through the inner pipe in counter-flow relation to the cooling liquid owing between the two pipes 84 and 86, and leaves the barrel at its top, passing through the fitting 62 on its way to the faucet.

While flowing through the inner pipe 86,l,1.the beverage is given the maximum cooling effect, thus reducing its temperatures to a degree which keeps the beverage in a truly liquid state for discharge from the faucet. No foaming or frothing occurs and, in the case of charged liquids like ginger ale, soda water, and the like, this final cooling prevents any loss of carbonation and insures that the charged liquid will be delivered in its proper condition as a liquid instead of a gas or a mixture of gas and liquid.

This provision for the final cooling of the bever- 6 age` as it flows along the" inner 'pipe enables charged liquids to be sold in barrels instead of in bottles as is now customary. The general cooling of the. beverage by the cooling fluid flowing between the coiled pipes keeps the' beverage at such a temperature that it prevents the loss of carbonation from a charged liquid, and in the case of beer, ale or the like, prevents any refermentation thereof. v,And the final maximum cooling of the beverage as it iiows along the inner pipe, so additionally chills the beverage that it flows on to the dispensing faucet in the desired purely liquid statej While it is intended that the barrel embodying my inprovements shall be placed under a counter in close proximity to the dispensing faucet, it is nevertheless contemplated that the barrel may be located in a basement or on some iioor level below that on which is the counter. When this is necessary, the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 is preferable.

In this arrangement the fitting 98 of the barrel is connected to a source of pressure |80. The fitting 92, through which the beverage leaves the barrel, is connected by a pipe |82 to another inner pipe |04 arranged within an outer pipe |06. The inner pipe |64 extends to a dispensing faucet |88 on a counter H8. The outer pipe |06 continues outside the inner pipe |04 to close by the faucet just under the counter top. The upper end of this outer pipe |86 is connected by a pipe ||2 to a source H4 of cooling fluid, which is also connected by a pipe IV` to the fitting 80 near the bottom of the barrel. The lower end of the outer pipe |86 is connected by a pipe Hi8 with the fitting 94 of the barrel. Thus it is clear that the cooling fluid from source |I4 flows to the upper end of pipe I2, thence through this pipe around the inner pipe |84 to the upper end of the outer pipe 84 within the barrel. Thence the cooling liquid flows as previously described between the pipes 84 and 83 to the fitting 86 whence it returns by pipe ||6 to the source H4.

Although in Fig. 4 I have only shown one barrel it is contemplated that several barrels may be at the lower level with separate delivery pipes leading to several faucets on the counter. All these several delivery pipes may be embraced by one common outer pipe containing the cooling fluid, which shall extend from close by the several barrels to the several faucets. It is to be understood also that I may have a multi-chambered barrel or container, each chamber holding a different fluid such as ginger ale, a cola drink, soda water, etc. From each chamber a delivery pipe would lead through a common conduit in which a cooling fluid would be continuously circulated preferably in a direction of flow counter to that of the liquids going to the dispensing faucets.

I claim:

l. A barrel for beverages comprising a pipe coiled therein having an entrance end at the top of the barrel and having an outlet end near the bottom of the barrel, and a second pipe arranged within the rst said pipe having its entrance end near the bottom of the barrel and having its outlet at the top of the barrel; the second pipe constituting a delivery passageway for the discharge of beverage from the barrel and the space between the two pipes constituting a passageway for the iiow of a cooling fluid.

2. Beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a barrel having a pipe therein for the flow of cooling iiuid and a second pipe within the rst 7 fm'entioned :pipefor the-flow -o'f the ybeverage from wit'h'in the rijm-rel, Athe said .beverage pipe being 'connected Iloy a third .ppe to a dispensing 'faucet outside-of and separate from the lbariel, andthe A'.'efaiiii-cfooiin'gIuiipipezbeingconnected to a mani- .olldip'ipe surrounding the said third xpipe, through which manifold pipe the cooling fluid may flow from lits-source to the -'rst mentioned pipe within the barrel anni h'ence through the barrel to ail outlet for :the jcooiirig viuid near th bottom 'of .10

the barrel.'

FRANK S. WALKER.

REFERENCES 'CITED Number Name Date 32,136,813 I'Dolijsori Y Nov. 15, 1938 m8575389 Winkler Jan. 16, 1940 2,343gf1117 'Ii-i'inau Mr. 7, 51944 

